Button-machine.



No. 673,432. Patented May 7, I90]. C. W. GABIS.

BUTTON MACHINE.

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BUTTON MACHINE.

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C. W. GARIS.

BUTTON MAQHINE. (Apnlipatipn filed May 24, 1900.|

Pat ented ma 7, I901.

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(No Modal) UNITED STATES CORNELIUS IVEYGANDT GARIS, OF EASTON,PENNSYLVANIA.

BUTTON-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 673,432, dated May 7,1901. Application filed May 24, 1900. Serial No. 17,790. (No model.)

vention, such as will enable others skilled in Y the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to a button-machine,

and more particularly to machines designed for assembling and fasteningtogether elements of buttons made in whole orin part of sheet metal andwhich preferably are covered with cloth or leather.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine of this characterwhich shall be simple of construction, durable in use, and comparativelyinexpensive of production and which will perform its functions in aneffi-" cient manner.

With this and other objects in View, which will appear in the detaildescription of the machine, the invention consists of certain featuresof construction and combination of parts,which will be hereinafter fullyset forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of themachine. Fig. 2is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is an enlarged verticalsectional view through that portion of the machine supported upon thetop of the bench or table, the shell-hopper being omitted and the partsbeing shown in their elevated position. Fig. 4 is a similar viewillustrating the position of parts in their lowered position. Fig. 5 isa vertical central sectional View through the shell-hopper and itsdischargethroat. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the reciprocatorydie-head. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view on line x azof Fig. 2.Fig. 8 is a similar view on line y y of Fig 2. Fig. 9 is a similar viewon line 3 3. Fig. 10 is alongitudinal vertical sectional view throughthe drive-shaft, the drive-Wheel, and the-clutch mechanism. Fig. 11 isan enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the shellhopper,illustrating the guide-lugs. Fig. 12 is a rear elevation of the leverfor actuating the carrier-shifter. Fig. 13is a longitudinal sectionalview through the shell-hopper throat and the chute, showing in fulllines the upper end of the chute contiguous to the lower end of thethroat and the shell-check pressed outward to permit of the passage ofthe shells from said throat into the chute and showing in dotted linesthe upper end of the chute lowered and the check in position to preventshells from escapingthrough said throat. Fig. 14 is a vertical sectionalview through the 'lower end of the chute,showing its connection with thedie-body. Fig. 15 is a side elevation of the leather or cloth covering,the shell, and shank before assembled. Fig. 16 is a vertical sectionalview through the completed button. Fig. 17 is a detail perspective viewof one of the dies. Fig. 18 is a similar view of the hollow plunger, andFig. 19 is a detail view of limit-bolt 49.

In the drawings, 1 denotes the supporting bench or table, provided withan aperture 2 in its top.

3 denotes the base of the machine, provided with an aperture 4 and withtwo guide-posts or uprights 5, which are connected at their upper endsby a cross-piece 6. The base is provided with a rigid plunger 7 and withan aperture 8, the latter being adapted to receive the nail of the shankwhen manufac- 8o turing buttons the shanks of which are provided withnails. The aperture 8 has preferably formed around it a boss 9.

10 denotes the operating-rod, mounted to reciprocate vertically throughthe aperture 4 and having its upper end reduced to form a shoulder 11.The lower end of this rod projects through the aperture 2 in the top ofthe bench or tableand is connected by a link 12 to the crank 13 of thedrive-shaft 14. This drive-shaft 14 is journaled in a bearing 15 of abracket depending from the lower side of the top of the table and in abearing 16, secured to the legs or framework of the machine. It isevident'by this construction that 5 the rotation of the drive-shaft willreciprocate the operating-rod l0 vertically.

17 denotes the die-body, mounted to slide vertically upon said rod 10and spaced from the base of the machine by a stiff coil-spring I00 18,coiled around the rod. The die-body is provided with two apertures 19and 20, the former to receive the shank of the button and the latter toreceive the shell and its covering-disk. The aperture 20 alines with theplunger 7 and the aperture 19 with the aperture 8 in the base of themachine. The aperture 19 is provided with a plunger 21, which isprovided with a groove 22 in its side, into which projects the end of apin 23 to limit the movement of the plunger. When the diebody isdepressed, the lower protruding end of the hollow plunger will engagethe boss 9 on the base of the machine and will force the hollow plungerupwardly and raise the button-shank from engagement with the aperture 19in a manner hereinafter to be described.

24 denotes the carrier, which is journaled upon the rod 10 and seatsupon the shoulder 11. This carrier is shown in the present instance asprovided with equidistant apertures 25, 26, 27, and 28, each of which isprovided with a die 29,which has alimited vertical movement in saidapertures by means of a pin 30, engaging a groove 31 in the side of thedie.

32 denotes a head fixed to the upper end of the rod 10 and adapted tomove vertically with said rod. This head is provided with a plunger 33,which is secured to said head in a fixed adjustmentthat is to say, theplunger may be elevated or lowered relatively to the head and held inthis adjusted position by means of a nut 34, screwed upon the upper endof the screw-threaded shank 35 of the plunger. When the head is beingdepressed, the plunger alines with one of the apertures 25, 26, 27, and28 and with the aperture 19.

36 denotes a coil-spring placed about the upper reduced end of the rod10 to hold the carrier 24 firmly upon the die-body 17 when the machineis depressed.

37 denotes the shifter-operating lever, pivoted to the rear side of thebase of the machine and projecting upwardly through a slot 38, formed inthe cross-piece 6.

39 denotes the carrier-shifter, pivoted to thecross-piece 6 and having aslot or aperture 40 in its rear end, through which projects the upperend 41 of the shifter-lever.

The outer end of the shifter is bent down wardly, as shown at 42, and isadapted to successively engage the notches or recesses 43, formed in theperiphery or edge of the carrier, and thereby rotate the carrier atpredetermined intervals a quarter of a revolution. The impetus ormomentum imparted to the shifter is checked or arrested by stop-lugs 44.

45 and 46 denote spring-arms, which, if desired, may be made in onepiece, as shown. These arms are each fixed to the shifter-lever. Thespring-arm 45 projects upward,

while the spring-arm 46 projects downward. The spring-arm 45 is arrangedin the path of movement of a laterallyprojecting pin 47, while thespring-arm 46 is arranged within the path of movement of alaterally-projecting pin 48. Each pin is fixed to the head 32. When thehead is depressed or drawn down, the shifter-lever is rocked from leftto right by the pin 47 engaging the spring-arm 45, and when the head iselevated or moved upwardly the shifter-lever is rocked from right toleft by the spring-arm 45 coming into engagement with the pin 48. It isof course understood that each movement of the shifter-lever rocks theshifter in a direction the reverse to the direction of movement of theshifter-lever. l/Vhen the shifter is moving from right to left, it isengaged with one of the notches on the edge or periphery of the carrierand rotates the carrier the distance of the movement of the shifter. Therocking of the shifter from left to right takes place when the parts arelowered to the position shown in Fig. 4, in which position itwill beobserved that the carrier has been depressed and the notch in its edgeor periphery has been freed from engagement with the lower end of theshifter, so that in the movement of the shifter from left to right itwill not return or affect the position of the carrier.

49 denotes a stop to limit the upward movement of the die-body. Thisstop in the present instance, as shown, has a screw which projectsupwardly through the base and has its threaded end screwed into thedie-body. A nut 50 is used for locking the screw against rotation. I

Any suitable mechanism may be employed for rotating the drive-shaft; butthat shown and which lwill now proceed to describe is preferred by me. I

Mounted loosely upon the shaft is a drivewheel 51, which is adapted toreceive its power and be'continuously rotated by a drive-belt. (Notshown.) It is desirable to throw this wheel in and out of operativeengagement with the drive-shaft to permit the machine to come to astopwhen occasion demands it, and to this end I have provided a novel clutchmechanism, which consists of a clutch member 52, which is fixed to saidshaft and is in the form of a disk and is provided with a lug 53, whichhas a sliding engagement in a box or bearing 54, formed integral withthe disk, and is held pressed inward by a stiff bowed spring 54', fixedto the outer face of the disk. This spring-actuated lug projects intothe path of movement of one or more lugs 54*, fixed to the spokes of thedrive-wheel, and when the wheel is rotating in the direction of thearrow shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the fixed lugs will come in contact withthe springactuated lug and will cause the clutch member or disk to berotated, and consequently cause the shaft to lock the clutch member tothe drivewheel, which, as before explained, is constantly rotating. Toallow the machine to come to a stop, I provide a trip-rod 55, mounted tomove verticallyin bearings 56, secured to the legs of the frame. Thistrip rod is provided with an inclined head 56', which normally projectsinto the path of movement of the hooked outer end of thespring-actuatedlug, so that in the rotation of the disk or clutch member the lug willcome into engagement with the inclined head of the trip-rod and bewithdrawn from the fixed lug secured to the spokes of the drive-wheel,thus stopping the movement of the clutch member or disk and permittingthe band or drive wheel to freely revolve upon the shaft and theoperative parts of the machine to remain in a position of rest. Thetrip-rod is normally held in the path of movement of the spring-actuatedlug by a coil-spring 57 and is Withdrawn from the path of movement ofsaid spring-actuated lug by a treadle 58, to which the lower end of thetrip-rod is pivoted.

59 denotes a chute leading from a hopper 60 and connected to thedie-body to deliver the blanks to the aperture 20. The blanks enter saidaperture through a transverse aperture 61, formed in the rear side ofthe diebody.

62 denotes conical guide-pins projecting upwardly from the upper surfaceof the diebody and adapted to engage with guide-apertures 62, formed inthe carrier, so that when the carrier is lowered upon the die-bod y itwill be prevented from being accidentally turned.

The operation of the parts of the machine hereinbefore described issubstantially as follows: It will be assumed that the chute is filledwith shells and that one shell 63 is in the aperture 20 of the die-bodyand that a shank 63' is in the aperture 19 of the diebody. Acovering-disk 64, of leather, cloth, or other suitable material, isplaced in the aperture over the shell. The treadle is now depressed bythe foot of the operator, which permits the spring-actuated lug to shootinto the path of movement of the fixed lugs on the drive-wheel. As thedrive-shaft is revolved the operating-rod through its intermediateconnections will be drawn downward, lowering with it the head and thecarrier. As the head and carrier are moving downwardly the shifter is inthe position shown in Fig. 1 and in engagement with one of the notchesor recesses in the carrier. The head and carrier continue to movedownward until the guide-pins project into the apertures in the carrierand until the carrier rests upon the die-body. When the carrier reachesthis point, a further downward movement of the head will bring it intocontact with the carrier, and as the operating-rod continues to movedownward the three partsnamely, the die-body, the carrier, and theheadwill be lowered simultaneously and in unison until the die-bodystrikes the base or one of the bosses projecting upwardly therefrom. Thedownward movement of these parts causes the shell and its covering to beforced from their seats or apertures 20 in the die-body by the plunger'7 up into the aperture 25 of the carrier and immediately below the diein said aperture, where the edge of the disk or covering is turned underthe edge of the shell. At the instant the die-body, carrier, and headcome in contact in their downward movement the shifter swings from leftto right and withits lower end occupies a position directly above thenotch or. recess at the right. This movement of the shifter is effectedby the continued downward movement of the head after it has contactedwith the carrier, the transverse pin 48 coming in contact with thespring-arm 46. As above stated the blankiand its covering having beenelevated from the aperture 20 in the die-body into the aperture 25 ofthe carrier the driveshaft continues to rotate, and after it has passedthe dead'center the spring 18 elevates the die-body, the carrier, andthe head, and the continued rotation of the shaft separates the die-bodyfrom the carrier and the carrier from the head. The continued rotationof the shaft swings the shifter from right to left and rotates thecarrier a quarter of a revolution, bringing the aperture 28 intoalinement with the aperture 20 of the die-body. The aperture 25 hasmoved from its first position to'a position immediately in front of theoperating-rod. A cover-disk is now inserted in the aperture 20, and theoperation of the machine is repeated, and the aperture 27 of the carrieris brought into alinement with the aperture 20 of the die-body, and theaperture 25 is brought into alinement with the aperture 8 in the base.As the head, carrier, and diebody move downward with the aperture of thecarrier containing the covered shell in alinement with the aperture ofthe die-body containing the shank the lower end of the die 21 willcontact against the boss 9 and will crimp the shank to the shell,leaving the completed button in the aperture 25 of the carrier. Thecompleted button, as above stated, is now in the aperture 25 of thecarrier, and as the carrier is shifted a quarter of a revolution thisaperture is brought immediately into alinement with an ejector 65,secured to the under side of the head, so that in the depression of saidhead the ejector will project into the aperture 25 and force thecompleted button out through the same and permit it to fall into areceptacle conveniently placed to receive it. It is of course understoodthat upon each stroke of the machine a cover is placed into 4 theaperture 20 over a shell which has been fed into said aperture and thata shank is placed into the other aperture of said die-body, so thatafter the carrier has made a complete revolution it will discharge acomplete button at each quarter of a revolution it makes. When it isdesired to stop the rotation of the shaft, the operator removes his footfrom the treadle and allows the trip-lever to be shot upward by itsspring, with its tri -head in the path of movement of the hooked end ofthe springactuated lug. As the clutch member or disk rotates the hookedend of the lug will engage the inclined head of the trip-lever,thnsdrawing said lug laterally outward and removing its inner end'fromengagement with the fixed lug carried by the spokes of the drive or bandwheel.

That the shell-chute may be properly supplied With shells and saidshells he delivered to the aperture 20 in proper position to becoveredthat is, with their con vex sides up I provide a novel form ofhopper, which I will now proceed to describe. The hopper is fixed to ashaft 67, journaled in bearings 68 at the upper end of a standard 69,supported upon the table-top or shelf. The shaft 67 is provided with asheave 70, around which passes a belt or cord 71, which also engages asheave 72, carried by the crank shaft. Guide-pulleys 7 3 are seen red tothe back edge of the table or bench to prevent the belt or cord fromrubbing against said table. The hopper preferably consists of two shells74 and 75, each of which is provided on its inner edges withinwardly-projecting annular fianges 76 and 77 and outwardly-projectingannular flanges 78 and 79. Both of these flanges are separated by studs80, formed integral with one flange and projecting into contact with thecontiguous fiange. The in wardly-projecting annular flanges 76 and 77prevent the lodgment of numerous buttonshells over the annular slotformed by the spac ing apart of the hopper-shelves, thereby enablingsaid shells to more readily pass out of the hopper. The walls of theaperture 81, formed by the studs 80 and the contiguous faces of theflanges 76 and 77, correspond to the profile of the button-shell. Thisprevents the shell passing through the apertures 81 unless said shellsare in such position as to be discharged from the chute into theaperture 20 of the die-body with its convex portion uppermost.

82 denotes a ring or band which surrounds the annular slot formed in theflanges of the hopper-shelves and is supported by arms 83, projectingfrom the standard 69. At a point in its periphery, preferably at thelowest point, the shell is formed with a throat with which the apertures81 of the shell-hopper are adapted to be brought successively intoregister to discharge the button-shells. This throat has a longitudinalslot in its base,which is covered by a shell-check 84, which prefer ablyconsists of a spring-plate, the upper end of which is fixed to the upperend of the throat and the lower end of which is provided with a head 85,which is curved outwardly, as shown in Fig. 13.

When the shell-chute, which is supported to slide in a bracket 86,secured to the standard 69, is in its elevated position, its upper endforces the check outward and isin alinement with the lower end of thechute to receive the button-shells discharged therefrom and to conductthem to the aperture 20 in the die-body. When the shell-chute lowers inthe downward movement of the die-body to which it is attached, the upperend of said chute is withdrawn from engagement with the check, whichsprings into the slot in said throat and prevents the discharge of thebutton-shells.

It is of course understood that while the drive-shaft is being rotatedthe movement of said shaft is imparted to the hopper to cause itsrotation, and as the hopper rotates the button-shells which are placedwithin said hopper find their seats in the apertures 81, and when eachaperture is brought into register with the throat the button-shell dropsinto said throat and from thence is delivered to the chute. The hopper,at some convenient point, is provided with an opening 87, covered by aplate or door 88.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the construction, operation, and advantages of myimproved button-machine will be read ily apparent without requiring anextended explanation. It will be seen that the device is simple ofconstruction, that said construction permits of its manufacture at smallcost, and that it is exceedingly well adapted for the purpose for whichit is designed.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the principle orsacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus fully described .my invention, what'is claimed as new, anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. In a button-machine, the combination of a rotatable carrier having aplurality of openings therein, dies located in said openings and havinga limited movement therein, a diebody having openings, a fixed plungeradapted to cooperate with one of said openings and with one of theopenings in the carrier, a die located in the other opening of thedie-body and having a limited movement therein to cooperate with one ofthe openings in the carrier, a verticallymovable plunger adapted toaline with the alined dies of the carrier and die-body, and an ejectormoving with said plunger and adapted to eject the completed button fromone of the openings in the carrier, substantially as set forth.

2. In a button-machine, the combination of a rotatable carrier having aplurality of openings therein,.dies located in said openings, a die-bodyhaving openings, a fixed plunger adapted to cooperate with one of saidopenings and one of the openings in the carrier, a die located in theother opening of the diebody and adapted to cooperate with one of theopenings in the carrier,-and means for automatically shifting thecarrier predetermined distances at regular intervals, substantially asset forth.

' In a button-machine, the combination of the reciprocatoryoperating-rod, a die-body loosely mounted thereon to have a slidingengagement therewith, a carrier loosely mounted on said rod and having asliding engagement therewith, a head fixed to the upper end of said rod,a carrier-shifter, a pivoted lever by which the carrier-shifter isshifted, and means for imparting to the shifter-lever a rocking movementby the movement of the operating-rod, whereby the carrier is caused torotate step by step at regular intervals, substantially as set forth.

4. In a button-machine, the combination of the reciprocatoryoperating-rod, a die-body loosely mounted thereon to have a slidingengagement therewith, a carrier loosely mounted on said rod and having asliding engagement therewith, a head fixed to the upper end of saidrod,.a carrier-shifter, a pivoted lever by which the carriershifter isshifted, and means for imparting to the shifter-lever a rocking movementby the movement of the operating-rod, whereby the carrier is caused torotate step by step at regular intervals, said means comprising pins orstuds projecting from said head and arms connected to the shifter-leverand projecting in the path of movement of the pins or studs,substantially as set forth.

In a button-machine, the combination of the reciprocatory operating-rod,a die-body loosely mounted thereon to have a sliding engagementtherewith, a carrier loosely mounted on said rod and having a slidingengagement therewith, a head fixed to the upper end of said rod, acarrier-shifter, a pivoted lever by which the carrier-shifter isshifted, and means for imparting to the shifter-lever a rocking movementby the movement of the operating-rod, whereby the carrier is caused torotate step by step at regular intervals, said means consisting of pinsor studs connected to said head and spring-arms projecting in oppositedirections and connected to said shifter-lever and projecting within thepath of movement of the said pins or studs, substantially as set forth.

6. Ina button-machine, the combination of the base, standards projectingupwardly therefrom, a cross-piece connected to the upper end of thestandards and provided with stop lugs, a reciprocatory rod projectingthrough the base, a die-body loosely mounted upon said rod, a carrierloosely mounted upon said rod and provided with recesses or notches inits edge, a head fixed to the upper end of said rod, ashifter pivoted tosaid crosspiece and being limited in its movement by said stop-lugs andadapted to engage the notches or recesses in the edge of the carrier,and a shifter-lever connected to said shifter and adapted to rock saidshifter back and forth to rotate in one direction, substantially as setforth.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with abutton-assembling mechanism, of a shell-chute carried by said mechanismand movable therewith to convey a shell in proper position to becovered, a movable shell hopper having a dischargeopening adapted toregister with and lead a shell to the chute, and means actuated by themovement of the chute to control the supply of shells from said hopperto said chute, substantially as set forth.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with abutton-assembling mechanism, of a shell-chute carried by said mechanismand movable therewith to convey a shell in proper position to becovered, a rotary shell-hopper having a discharge-opening adapted toregister with and lead a shell to the chute, and means actuated by themovement of the chute to control the supply of shells from said hopperto said chute, substantially as set forth.

9. In a button-machine, the combination of the base, a reciprocatoryoperating-rod, a die-body loosely mounted upon said rod to slidethereon, a spring confined between the base and said die-body, anadjustable stop for limiting the upward movement of the diebody understress of the spring, a carrier loosely mounted to slide and rotate withrespect to said rod, and a head secured to the upper end of said rod,substantially as set forth.

10. In a button-machine, the combination of a rotatable carrier having aplurality of openings therein, dies located in said openings and havingalimited movement therein, a die-body having openings, a fixed plungeradapted to cooperate with one of said openings and with one of theopenings in the carrier, a die located in the other opening of thedie-body and having a limited movement therein and adapted to cooperatewith one of the openings in the carrier, and a vertically-movable andvertically-adjustable rod adapted to aline with the alined dies of thecarrier and die-body, substantially as set forth.

11. In a button-machine, the combination of the base, a reciprocatoryrod, a head, a carrier and a die-body adapted to be actuated by saidrod, a drive-shaft, connection between the reciprocatory rod forconverting the movement of the drive-shaft into a reciprocatory movementand imparting said reciprocatory movement to the operating-rod, and aclutch mechanism for disconnecting the drive-shaft from its source ofpower, substantially as set forth.

12. In a button-machine, the combination with the reciprocatoryoperatingrod, of a drive-sh aft provided with a crank, a link connectingthe reciprocatory rod with the crank, a drive-wheel provided with fixedlugs which are mounted upon said shaft, a clutch member fixed to saidshaft provided with a springactuated lug adapted normally to rotatewithin the path of movement of a fixed lug, and a trip-rod adapted toproject into the path of movement of the spring-actuated lug to withdrawit and hold it from the path of movement of the spring-actuated lug,substantially as set forth.

13. In a machine of'the character described, the combination, with abutton-assembling mechanism, of a shell-chute carried by said mechanismand movable therewith to convey a shell in proper position to becovered, a rotary shell-hopper having button-discharge openings adaptedto be brought successively in register with the entrance end of saidchute, a fixed band surrounding said hopper and covering said openingsand provided with a throat in alinement with the entrance end of saidchute and with which the dischargeopenings are adapted to successivelyregister, and meansfor closing the said throat to prevent the dischargeof shells therefrom when the chute is moved away from the throat,substantially as set forth.

14;. In a button-machine, the combination with a shell-chute to convey ashell to the machine, of a hopper having an opening, the walls of whichconform to the profile of the button-shell when said shell is in acertain position, whereby the shell may pass through said opening intothe chute when it is in the proper position to be delivered to thebutton- CORNELIUS WEYGANDT GARIS.

Witnesses:

PENNELL C. EVANS, H. T. BUOKLEY.

